Crockatt fights off barbs from opponents during first forum

Bryan Weismiller, Calgary Herald11.19.2012

Gavin Young, Calgary Herald CALGARY, AB: November 17, 2012 - Calgary Centre Progressive Conservative candidate Joan Crockett speaks at an all candidates forum at the Golden Age Club in the East Village on Saturday November 17, 2012. In the background are from left; Harvie Locke, Liberal, Chris Turner, Green Party and Dan Meades, NDP. (Gavin Young/Calgary Herald) (For City story by Bryan Weismiller)Gavin Young
/ Calgary Herald

Gavin Young, Calgary Herald CALGARY, AB: November 17, 2012 - The audience listens as Calgary Centre NDP candidates debate the issues at an all candidates forum at the Golden Age Club in the East Village on Saturday November 17, 2012. (Gavin Young/Calgary Herald) (For City story by Bryan Weismiller)Gavin Young
/ Calgary Herald

Gavin Young, Calgary Herald CALGARY, AB: November 17, 2012 - Calgary Centre NDP candidate Dan Meades speaks at an all candidates forum at the Golden Age Club in the East Village on Saturday November 17, 2012. (Gavin Young/Calgary Herald) (For City story by Bryan Weismiller)Gavin Young
/ Calgary Herald

Gavin Young, Calgary Herald CALGARY, AB: November 17, 2012 - Calgary Centre Progressive Conservative candidate Joan Crockett listens at an all candidates forum at the Golden Age Club in the East Village on Saturday November 17, 2012. (Gavin Young/Calgary Herald) (For City story by Bryan Weismiller)Gavin Young
/ Calgary Herald

Gavin Young, Calgary Herald CALGARY, AB: November 17, 2012 - Calgary Centre Green Party candidate Chris Turner speaks at an all candidates forum at the Golden Age Club in the East Village on Saturday November 17, 2012. (Gavin Young/Calgary Herald) (For City story by Bryan Weismiller)Gavin Young
/ Calgary Herald

CALGARY— Conservative byelection candidate Joan Crockatt came under fire Saturday for suggesting the federal government should seek foreign investment in the oilpatch because the country’s largest trading partner is a “basket case financially.”

After facing sharp criticism for not attending other forums in the Calgary Centre byelection, Crockatt’s presence spurred several rancorous exchanges inside the Golden Age Club at the East Village Community Association.

A question over China’s state-owned CNOOC Ltd.’s $15.1-billion bid to take over Calgary-based Nexen Inc. fired up the debate.

Crockatt said she’s heard Calgarians’ desire for more trade and investment deals with superpowers China and India as the result of a floundering economy south of the border.

Voters “appreciate the fact that the federal government is open for business, that Canada is open for business,” she said.

“Our largest trading partner in the U.S. is a basket case financially and we need to start looking for other markets. That’s why we’re out doing business in 66 countries around the world right now.”

The Harper government has intensified efforts to open new markets for Canadian oil in Asia to reduce reliance on the United States as its sole export market.

But Crockatt’s rivals had a different take on the United States, which currently buys 2.4 million barrels of Canadian oil each day.

The federal government recently extended the review process of the CNOOC deal under the Investment Canada Act to Dec. 10.

“There’s no question we need to engage with China,” Locke said. “It is the emerging superpower of the 21st century and that country to the south of us remains the dominant superpower of the century.”

In an interview, Green party candidate Chris Turner said the U.S. is “going through a really difficult period,” but wasn’t willing to label it basket case.

“President Obama is doing excellent work to try to bring what was a catastrophic situation to where we expect our trading partners to be,” Turner said.

NDP candidate Dan Meades told reporters it was typical for the Tories to dismiss a non-conservative government.

“Obviously, the strongest economy in the world happens to be our neighbour to the south,” Meades said. “Calling them a basket case probably is not a thoughtful way forward.”

Crockatt didn’t back down when asked about her remarks after the forum. She said the U.S. had been a good friend and trade ally, but there was a “need to look for other markets, so we can continue to grow our economy.”

Saturday marked the first byelection forum featuring representation from all four parties holding a share of the House of Commons prior to the Nov. 26 byelection.

Questions were drawn from the audience on topics ranging from military spending to federal transfer payments, to building a high-speed rail between Edmonton and Calgary.

The audience was again roused when Crockatt suggested funding cuts could be made to Canadian broadcaster CBC “as long as they’re still funding some porn channel on the web,” in reference to some French language programming.

Asked for clarification, she later told reporters: “Just search it on Google, it’s there.”

While the event was billed as a forum — not a debate — the three opposition candidates didn’t pass up the chance to take pot shots at the perceived front-runner.

“It was finally nice to see the Conservative candidate show her face,” Meades said.

“The rest of us have been at many forums talking to constituents quite a lot,” he added.

Meanwhile, Crockatt said she had fun at her first event, but confirmed she would not be attending the city-sponsored Cities Matter debate on Sunday.

“I like performing in front of the camera, it’s kind of what I’ve been doing for the last 10 years,” she said.

Turner also described the forum as “terrific fun.”

“We’re having a terrific conversation about what Calgary needs right now,” he said.

For his part, Locke framed the final stretch of the campaign as a two-horse race between himself and the Tory candidate.

“It’s like the chuckwagon races down at the Stampede,” he said.

Three polling stations will be open from noon until 8 p.m., Monday: the Rosscarrock Community Hall at 4411 10th Ave. S.W., the University of Calgary’s downtown campus at 906 8th Ave. S.W., and the Windsor Park Community Centre at 5304 6th St. S.W.

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